If your family is stuck at home during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, it’s likely your children are spending a lot more time online. School, chats with friends and grandparents, even music lessons — so much has shifted online.

Being connected helps children and teenagers reduce the impact of this new (temporary) normal and encourages them to continue with their lives. But it also presents a new set of challenges for every parent. How can you maximize all that the internet has to offer, while minimizing the potential harm? It’s not an easy balance on a normal day, let alone when facing a health crisis like COVID-19.

Social media is full of posts describing people’s attempts to cut the hair of their partners or children. It’s at times like these that I’m very grateful for a head of unruly curls that are very forgiving of missing a few trims. My daughters both have fairly long, uncomplicated hair which I can avoid trimming too. As for my husband, so far he’s managing without a haircut, but give it a couple more weeks and we’ll see!